By: Dr Souvik Chatterji (Associate Professor in Law and Head of Department, JIS University, Kolkata)

Rafi Sahab is remembered all over the world on his birth anniversary on 24th December, 2020. He had remained an inspiration for numerous singers all over the world. While he received filmfare for best male playback singer 6 times, there were many more songs in which he deserved the filmfare award.

There is a wrong conception that he had a lean period between 1972 to 1975. Here are the landmark songs sung by Rafi Sahab during that period of time. In 1972 film Pakeezah, Rafi Sahab sang the song “chalo dildar chalo chand ke paar chalo” composed by Ghulam Mohammad. It was a super hit song.

In 1972, Rafi Sahab sang  landmark songs for Rajendra Kumar film Gora Aur Kala composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The songs included “ek na ek din yeh kahaani banegi”, “dhoom mach gayi dhoom” and “tere nain nashe de pyale” which became hit. In Dilip Kumar’s film Dastan, Rafi Sahab’s tragedy song “na tu zameen ke liye” was a super hit song composed by LP.

In 1972, Raj Kumar film Dil Ka Raja, had few Rafi Sahab hit songs including “jao tum jao”, and “sundar ho aise tum”. In Dharmender and Rajender Kumar film Lalkar, Rafi Sahab sang landmark song “aaj galo muskuralo”, “bol mere saathiya”, “zara murke do dekh” composed by Kalyanji Anandji all were super hit songs. In Jeetendra film Roop Tera Mastana in 1972, Rafi Sahab’s song “bari bewafa hai yeh” composed by LP became super hit. In 1972, Rafi Sahab’s song “patta patta boota boota” for Amitabh Bachchan in film Ek Nazar became super hit.

In 1973, Rafi Sahab’s song “tum jo mil gaye ho” became cult song composed by Madan Mohan Kohli in film Hanste Zakhm.  In 1973, Rafi Sahab song “aaj mausam bara beimaan hai” for Dharmendra film Loafar became super hit and once again used in film Monsoon Wedding. In 1973, Rafi Sahab song “Yaadon ki baraat” and “chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko” composed by RD Burman in Dharmender film Yaadon Ki Baraat became super hit. In 1973 Shashi Kapoor film Naina, Rafi Sahab song composed by Shankar Jaikishan “humko to jaan se pyari hai”, “mujhe tu ne maar dala”, became super hit.

In 1974, Rafi Sahab song for Anil Dhawan in film Hawas titled “teri galiyon me na rakhe the kadam” composed by Usha Khanna became bumper hit. Rafi Sahab song in 1974, “ek daal par tota bole” for Shashi Kapoor in film Chor Machaye Shor composed by Ravindra Jain became super hit.  Rafi Sahab’s song “kaise jeete hai bhala” in Dharmendra’s film Dost composed by LP became super hit.  In 1974, Rafi Sahab song “main wohi wohi baat” for Sanjeev Kumar in film Naya Din Nayi Raat, composed by LP became super hit. In 1974, Rafi Sahab song “banda parwar main kahan” and “na tujhse dur ja saku” for Dharmender in film Pocket Maar composed by LP became super hit.

In 1975, Rafi Sahab’s song “chari re chari” in Sanjeev Kumar film Mausam, composed by Madanmohan Kohli became super hit. In 1975, Rafi Sahab song “Main jat yaamla pagla deewana” for Dharmender in film Pratigya composed by LP became super hit. In 1975, Rafi Sahab’s song “babul ke ghar ke baad” for Rajender Kumar in film Sunehra Sansar composed by Naushad Sahab became big hit.

The lists are too long and it is difficult to cover majority of hit songs of Rafi Sahab between 1972 to 1975. From 1976 onwards Rafi Sahab’s songs flabbergasted the audience in films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Laila Majnu, Qurbani, Karz, Sargam, Naseeb, Shaan and other films.

Rafi Sahab never had any lean period. Right from Dilip Kumar to Rajender Kumar, Dharmender to Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor to Sanjeev Kumar, majority of stars were indebted to landmark songs of Rafi Sahab. The films and songs require restoration.

This blog was published on Thursday, December 24th, 2020 at 1:40 pm and Last modified on Friday, December 25th, 2020 at 10:20 am and is filed under Meri Awaaz Suno. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.